Mission to Mars

Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility School of Environmental Sciences University of Guelph

Hubble Deep Field

Who wants to go to Mars?

Who likes camping?

Astronaut Training

Before you pitch your tent you might want to know more about the place you are going...

Earth Mars

Day length 24:00 24:39:22

Orbit 365 days 687 days / 669 sols

Speed 107 278.87 km/h 57 161.57 km/h

Temperature Average High Low

14 58 -88

-55 27

-133

Mass 5.98 x 1024 kg 6.42 x 1023 kg

Gravity 9.8 N/kg 3.7 N/kg

Atmospheric composition Oxygen Nitrogen Carbon dioxide

21 % 77 %

0.38 %

0.13 % 2.7 % 95 %

Pressure 101.3 kPa 0.7 kPa

Pressure

or lack thereof...

What will happen?

Pressure... rock

Before After

What will happen?

Pressure... balloon

Before After

What will happen?

Pressure... bubble wrap

Before After

What will happen?

Pressure... marshmallow

Before After

What will happen?

Pressure... apple

Before After

What will happen?

Pressure... marshmallow

Before After

What will happen?

Pressure... shaving cream

Before After

What would happen to a plant under low pressure?

What would happen to a person in the vacuum of space?

Biosphere 2 1991- 1993 (present)

1/3 of the gravity very cold temperatures very little air pressure

Will this work?

What are you going to do for food?

Current • Resupply from Earth • Physical-chemical systems

Food Oxygen Carbon dioxide removal Water

$50,000 per kilogram

Oxygen = 0.75-1.0 kg/day*

Water = 3.0 kg/day* (recycle)

Food = 0.5-0.6 kg/day*

Crew = 6

Food/Oxygen = 9.6 kg/day

Trip duration = ~2 years

Total Food/Oxygen = 7008 kg

Average elephant = 2300 kg

Cost just for food = $ 350 400 000**

* statistics based on a 70 kg (154 lbs) person

** does not include cost of food

Is there a better way to get food, oxygen and water while living on Mars ?

• Food Production

• Carbon Dioxide Absorption

• Oxygen Generation

• Water Recycling

• Waste Degradation

Advanced Life Support

oxygen

pure water

food

carbon dioxide

waste water

organic waste

Advanced Life Support

Bioregeneration Bioregeneration Bioregeneration

Photosynthesis

Transpiration

Martian Agriculture Recall that Mars has very low temperatures and little atmospheric pressure. How would you grow plants?

In a greenhouse.

Woohoo! A greenhouse on Mars!

• Can use ambient light

• Warmer environment

• UV protection

• Weather Protection

–Wind

–Dust storms

• Increased pressure

• Increased humidity

Radishes

Ambient – 100 kPa 66 kPa

33 kPa 10 kPa

Science is fun

Mars Analog – Devon Island

Webcam images

Mars Analog - Utah

Spirulina (Arthrospira) Freeze dried strawberries

Without a Greenhouse?

What do you want to eat on Mars?

Who wants to go to Mars?